/*
 * Encog(tm) Core v3.0 - Java Version
 * http://www.heatonresearch.com/encog/
 * http://code.google.com/p/encog-java/
 
 * Copyright 2008-2011 Heaton Research, Inc.
 *
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
 *
 *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 *
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 * limitations under the License.
 *   
 * For more information on Heaton Research copyrights, licenses 
 * and trademarks visit:
 * http://www.heatonresearch.com/copyright
 */
package org.encog.util.normalize.output;

import java.io.Serializable;

/**
 * An output field, this represents the actual output from the 
 * normalization.  Output from the normalization class is usually
 * input to a neural network.
 *
 * An output field may contain several subfields that will be
 * generated.  Call getSubfieldCount to determine how many fields
 * will be generated.  A simple field will return 1, indicating that 
 * this is a single field.
 */
public interface OutputField extends Serializable {
	
	/**
	 * Calculate the value for this field.  Specify subfield of zero
	 * if this is a simple field.
	 * @param subfield The subfield index.
	 * @return The calculated value for this field.
	 */
	double calculate(int subfield);

	/**
	 * @return The numebr of fields that will actually be generated by 
	 * this field. For a simple field, this value is 1.
	 */
	int getSubfieldCount();

	/**
	 * @return Is this field part of the ideal data uses to train the
	 * neural network.
	 */
	boolean isIdeal();

	/**
	 * Init this field for a new row.
	 */
	void rowInit();

	/**
	 * Set whether this field is part of the ideal output for a network.
	 * @param ideal True if this field is ideal.
	 */
	void setIdeal(boolean ideal);
}
